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Originally Posted by Red Clay Rambler
I've heard those with their own authority say it sometimes takes more like 30-45 days for their first checks to start arriving, unless you would consider factoring, then I guess your first payments would be alot sooner. Didn't want you to underestimate how long it might be before you start getting paid.
Just curious, you mention paying 3500 per year to LS for "insurance,HCP,LCN,IFTA,Transflo". What are HCP and LCN?
I would feel more comfortable getting the authority first, run for awhile and then add the second truck if things still look and feel good.
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I will try to answer all the questions in one response
Redclay the LCN is the load subscription/load alert which is 3.69/week and the HCP is the occupational hazard at I think 31.99/week.
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I have even called about the same loads that was posted on landstaronline and on getloaded or ITS to verifiy the difference in rates.There is room for neg. with your authority...
Ahhh, yeah. Right. Sometimes we can even negoiate UP to what the LS BCO's get, but we never get more. The agents favourite line is, "I'll put it on a Landstar truck before I pay that."
Rank, without you and I going back and forth I have been on both sides of the fence when it comes to dealing with our loadboard and ITS/GL.Every call I made on LS board has almost no room for negotiation except when they see your truck and call.Go ask the guys on
www.bcoforum.com
Yes you can negotiate with our agents but at what percent statistically speaking or out of a 100 calls you make to these agents as an outside carrier can you negotiate.
Anyway, I have some questions:
-How much (on a per mile basis) do you figure your costs are now?
-What are you averaging per loaded mile now?
-What are you taking home (before taxes) with LS?
-What are you averaging per mile including DH now?
-How much do you think you'll be able to get per mile with your own authority?
I don't think I want to post what I make per mile unless I am the REV or Steve, but I will tell you what, with my own authority my cost per mile is $1.02
Rank for your info:Approved Carriers only make 80% of the money.For example, I see a load from atlanta to houston from our landstaronline.com for 1750 gross and that same load on your carrier board will be posted for 1450.I am getting 75% X1750 and you're getting 1450.
Pros with LS
1.Your're paid weekly
2.You haul many machinery and military loads that independents usually do not haul.The closest outfit that usually hauls machinery than LS is Bennett.
3.The gross rate on ITS/GL is about 10cpm less than what is posted on LS board.
4.you get paid weekly and you money is guaranteed
5.LCAPP helps you in loaning you funds to fix your equipemment at a low interest rate.
Cons:
1.They nickle and dime on deductions and I know many BCOs who have about $450 deductions/month
2.You better send in your 120 day inspection,truck/trailer monthly report and logs on a timely manner or they will put a block on your fuel card.They are very strict when it comes to compliance as they say on their trailers.
3.More deadhead and especially now a days in these slow periods, and imagine being paid on straight line miles.(more like 100+ miles on the flats side per load)
4.I could barely book 2 loads in advance.
5.The agents are not as regualated as the drivers.
There are many but I cannot get into all of them.
I have studied Gl,ITS,MembersEdge,CH robinson and Eflatbed rates and so I can pretty much conclude on LS rates to the outside world.
Personally I am jumping because I don't have to answer to the 120 days but rather yearly.There are too many deductions and I hate dealing with compliance.The difference I will make in the rate is about 25cpm with my own authority.
I am leaning towards not buying a truck as two members mentioned on here.
I am doing well with LS but I need more freedom to do what I want to do and God forbid, I am not signing on with another carrier and I will have enough money to wait 20-30days to get paid.
If I had to pay 8000-9000 for insurance for my business, would stay where I am but at 5600 that is a deal.My gross is more compared to when I started hauling platform freight and bought my trailer.
LS is one of the best trucking companies out there but I can still do better.